My favorite indie patterns at the moment

You want a good freebie:

https://fancytigercrafts.com/collections/free-patterns/products/one-hour-top.

This one is pretty nice, too

https://byhandlondon.com/products/polly-top

I am curious why so many really simple Independent patterns are priced the way they are.

Maybe other countries don't have club prices or Joann's for cheap patterns, but I'll be honest, 

a pattern has got to rock my world for me to spend over $10 USD on it.

I need it to come to my house, open up and cut itself.

The ones I am fondest of, the ones I make over and over again and have bought more than one, more than once. The ones I foist on others, insisting: NO, really, this one is genius....

The Tiramisu from Sewing Cake

https://www.create-everyday.com/products/0144-tiramisu-knit-dress-pdf

It's all there on the envelope. It's just four pieces.

Why this fits EVERY BODY like a dream, well, lightning struck Steph C and this is the result. Do not question, just accept. Google search the photos for this if you need proof. 

Vintage Vests 222 Folkwear

https://www.folkwear.com/products/222-vintage-vests?variant=35454321102

Pretty much all of the Folkwear are great, but this is the only vest pattern I ever use. It's well drafted, comes in mens and womens sizes, and has great instructions. First welt pockets I ever made, and made a believer out of me.

Loes Hinse Textile Studio Barcelona Dress

This is the other dress that makes everyone look amazing, but this one has sleeves that work and can be made in a woven. This dress, in polka dots, has broken stubborn humans that dared to cross me. It's out of print, but it's out there. It's worth the search.

Barcelona dress line drawing. It's pretty simple to figure out. The skirt is one piece, cut four times, on the bias. The bodice is a pullover with small waist darts, cut ongrain.

CB Spiral Blouse

https://www.centerforpatterndesign.com/patterns/cb-spiral-blouse

I've only made this once, it's a little tricksy to stitch up. There's a part on the sleeve that you have to take on faith (and maybe fold up the paper pattern to see how it could possibly work).  But it does, and it's not a fabric hog. Very wearable, and very worth the $20.

Gifts and Gratitude 2020

Gift sewing this year was making masks. Some holiday ones as well. 

I did not color sample my custom Spoonflower print on the right from the left one by Kelly Gilleran, but I would have if I'd thought about it (I matched from his little mittens, and then decided to buy the cocoa print to make more masks with). It wasn't until I got them back from Spoonflower that I realized how perfect they were together, and that I could make that cocoa print last through all six masks for the recipient family.

https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/5675022-hot-cocoa-by-kellygilleran

Cotton poly lining from sheets.
I won't run out of sheets any time soon

Slicing knit jersey for more mask straps

Me modeling mask. One I made for me.

Cutting a box template and covering it with velveteen to line a wooden jewelry box for my niece.

Made a variation on the McCalls raglan hoody pattern, which really is a men's sized pattern despite the newly redone cover artwork. We'll call it the boyfriend hoody.

This pink stretch velvet shed little sparkles all over the sewing room, the cutting table, me, my clothes, my lungs....this is why I was vacuuming the room and started the Serger Tragedy.

Pink stretch velvet top much less of a hit. I'm batting about .000 with sewing for the niece these days.

And a scrap of the flannel jams for the boy. He doesn't need them, but I loved the print, the flannel washed up nice and fluffy, and they made him smile. 

 

This has been a rough year at Ernie K Labs, even before the pandemic. Enormous family upheavals: got new job, got furloughed, spouse left. Enormous local upheavals (my city is not a riot zone and please stop killing black people and tear gassing small children) got  back 5/8s of job (that seam allowance joke is lost on my boss).

I don't know what's going to happen next in my life.

I bet most of you don't either.

HOWEVER, I have a place to live and I have 5/8s of a job. I have 8/8s of my health insurance, courtesy of my company

I am grateful to my sewing family. You got me through this, with toddler videos, pants theory, engagements, babies, cosplay even when there wasn't a place to play. 

 I loved reading all your posts and seeing your photos.

Please know you are loved.